Japan-Korea settlement in US policy, 1953-1965

Abstract

The article is devoted to the process of normalization of Japanese-Korean relations in 1953-1965. The USA were an active participant throughout all of this process. The American side, which contributed to the start of the negotiations in 1953, evaded direct participation in them for a long time. The bilateral format of the process with an equidistant distance from it did not lead to quick results. However, in the face of escalation of the war in Vietnam, the U.S. began to need to normalize the situation in the north-eastern part of its Far Eastern strategic perimeter. Under these circumstances, one of the levers of pressure on both sides were the U.S.-Japan Treaty on Mutual Cooperation and Security guarantees, according to which U.S. readiness to defend the Japanese islands became the main element of Tokyo's defense policy. In Seoul, it awakened a sense of vulnerability, infringed on nationalist self-esteem and stimulated official attempts to balance it with countervailing gestures from the U.S. and concessions from Tokyo. Formally, Washington continued to be a “good offices” provider, but in fact increased pressure on both sides. As a result, Park Chung-hee government agreed with Japan on terms that were advantageous to Korea in that environment, but unable to accommodate Korean nationalists who continued to suspect the U.S. of displaying pro-Japanese foreign policy. The Japan-Korea conflict was somewhat eased, but not resolved, and the U.S. benefited most from the situation. Not only did it temporarily stabilize relations between its two major regional allies, but it also succeeded in shifting the burden of maintaining Korean armed forces to Japan.